Electric clock



July 16, 1935 1. FLORMAN 2,008,610

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed June 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w ik' gvwmtov July 16, 1935. I. FLORMAN 2,008,610

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed June 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 16, 1935- 1. FLORMAN 2,003,610

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed June24, 1931 :s Sheets-Sheet s gwoenfoz Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CLOCK Irving FlormanjNew York, N. Y. Application June 24, 1931, Serial No. 546,615

8 Claims- (Cl. 58-26) This invention relates to electric clocks and more particularly to clocks of the type having a non-self-starting motor.

Electric clocks are known having two types of motors. In the first type, the motor starts automatically whenever the current is turned on. In the second type, the turning on of the. current is not enough to start the motor and it is necessary to give an impulse to the rotor member manually or in some other fashion in order to restart the clock. For various reasons, clocks of this second type, have proven to be more satisfactory in actual use. For one thing, the fact that the clock has stopped is at once evident since it is no longer running, whereas a short break in the current with a self-starting clock may deceive the user since the clock will start to run again as soon as the current is restored. Devices for starting clocks of the non-self-starting type have been devised, but none of them have been particularly satisfactory as it is diiiicult to impart to the rotor suflicient speed by mere manual rotation of a knob or the like and as it is sometimes not realized that it is necessary to start the clock manually.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means in an electric clock of the nonself-starting type such that whenever the clock is set the rotor will automatically be started. More specifically, it is the object of the invention to provide a clock of this type in which the clock must be raised in'order for the hands to be set to the correct time after the motor has stopped, and in which the replacement of the clock on a. support automatically starts the rotor. A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for starting a rotor in which energy, such as that of a spring, is stored up and is then suddenly released upon the rotor, so that great starting speed may be'imparted to the rotor with a less degree of eifort. Another objectis to permit manual operation of such starting means.

A second object of the inventionis to supply a. clock having two spaced oppositely facing dials, so that the clock may be located for instance on the usual table between a pair of beds and may be seen by the occupant of either. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a clock in which the hands are driven in opposite directions from a single driving means. It is a further object of the invention to provide a setting means by which the hands of both dials may be set at the same time in opposite directions. A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and eflicient construction to accomplish these results.

-Connected to this member is means such as a pawl or lever arrangement so that spring energy may be stored up and suddenly released to act on the rotor. Through another opening in the base extends a setting stem, so that the clock must be raised in order to turn the hands to the proper time after the current has failed. In this Way, after the hands are set, the mere replacement of the clock on the supDOrt will start the rotor and thereby drive the clock.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a clock embodying my invention, with parts in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. 25

Fig. 4 is a. front elevation of the clock with the dial removed.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the clock with the dial removed.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the clock with the dial and supporting plate removed.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

The clock in general is provided with a base 2 of stone, marble or any suitable material. Secured to this base 2 by screws 4 is a metallic plate 6 carrying at either side upstanding supporting members 8. The clock proper is mounted in a cylindrical casing l0 which rests at its bottom on the plate 6 and at either side abuts the supports 8. A screw l2 extends through the plate 6 and engages threadedly in the wall of the casing in to hold the casing on the base.

Suitably mounted in the casing I0 is an electric coil l4 supplied with current through leads l6 extending through one side wall of the casing. Thiscoil serves to energize the pole pieces I 8, which in turn surround the rotor 20. This type of electric clock is well known and need not be described further.

The parts of the clock are mounted on two discs22, 24 near the ends of the casing i0 and supported thereby. In front of these discs are provided the dials 26, 28, both facing outwardly. The pole members 18 are secured to the disc 22 65 by pins 38 near the bottom of the pole pieces. Screws 32 extend through the side walls of the casing I8 and threadedly engage in openings in the pins 38 so as to support and secure the pole pieces and thereby the disc 22 within the casing.

The rotor 28 is mounted on a shaft 38 which extends through and is journalled in the lower portions of the disc 22, and in a plate I82 mounted on the outer side of the disc 26. On the outer side of the disc 22 this shaft carries a ratchet wheel 36 (Fig. l). Pivoted on the outer side of the disc 22 and at one side of "the ratchet 36 is a lever 38 swinging around a pin 48. A pawl 42 is pivoted at 44 to the end of the lever which is adjacent the ratchet 36. A spring 46 normally tends to turn this pawl in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 4), the movement of the pawl in this direction being limited by its engagement with a stop 48. The outer end or nose 58 of the pawl passes when the lever swings about its pivot within the range of the teeth of the ratchet 36. A spring 52 secured to the lever and to a fixed portion of the disc 22 normally draws the lever upward. A stop 54 is provided to liniit the upward movement of the lever.

On the other end of the lever 36 is a pawl 56 pivoted at 56 to the lever. One end 68 of this pawl is normally spring pressed by a spring 62 to engage a stop 64 on the lever. It will be noted that the pivot 58 is located well above the pivot 48 of the lever and that the stop 64 is arranged on the same side of the pivot 48 as the pawl 42. The pawl 56 also has an engaging flange 66 and a cam surface 68 on the opposite end from the projection 68.

A reciprocable member I8 has a'slot 12 which engages pins I5, I6 and a screw I8 mounted in the disc 22. The screw I8 carries a plate 68 which overlies the member I8 and holds it in position. The member 18 is thus constrained to move vertically past one end of the lever 38. A spring 82 secured to the member 18 and to a fixed part of the disc 22 normally draws the member I8 downward.

On the member I8 is a pin 84 which in the lower position of the reciprocable element is located below the engaging flange 66 of the lever 56. When the member I8is drawn by its spring to its lowered position, it is lowered and extends through registering openings I2, 14 in the plate 6 and base 2 to a considerable distance below the bottom of the base. The spring 82 is of such strength that the weight of the clock is sumcient to overcome its resistance and to raise the member I8. If new the clock is placed on a support, the member I8 will engage the support and will be moved upwardly thereby. The pin 84 will engage the flange 66 and through the stop members 68, 64 will turn the lever 38 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4). During this move ment, the lever is turned against the action of the spring and the nose 58 of the pawl 42, engaging the teeth of the rotor, is turned thereby against the action of the spring 46 and slides over the teeth of the ratchet. After the member 18 has moved a certain distance, the pin 84 will pass the end of the pawl 56. When this occurs, the lever 38 is released and under the action of the spring 52 turns back suddenly to its normal position. During this movement, the nose 58 of the pawl 42 engages the teeth of the ratchet and cannot be turned thereby because of the stop 48. The sudden quick movement of the lever 38 is therefore imparted to the ratchet 36 and therefore to the rotor 28. In this way, a sudden force,

stored up in the spring 52, is imparted to the rotor to start the same.

When the clock is raised, the spring 82 moves the member I8 to extended position. The pin 84, in moving downwardly, engages the cam surface 66 of the pawl 56 and pushes the pawl aside. As soon as the pin has passed the pawl, the spring 62 pushes the pawl 56 back to its engaging position. The device is thus reset so that an impulse will be given to the rotor when the clock is replaced on its support.

The shaft 34 also carries a worm 86, and a shaft 88 mounted in supports 98, 92 on the disc 22 carries a worm wheel 94 in engagement with the worm 86. A shaft 96 extends through the centers of the two discs and through the dials. On one end of this shaft and outside the disc 22 is secured a sleeve 98 carrying in front of the dial 26 the minute hand I88. On the other end of the shaft 96 and extending through the disc 24 is a sleeve I82 freely rotatable on the shaft and journalled in an opening I84 in the disc 24. This sleeve carries on its outer end beyond the dial 28 a minute hand I86. Inside the disc 24 and secured to the sleeve I82 is a worm wheel I88.

Arranged on the shaft 88 are two worms H8, H2 the first of which engages with the worm wheel II4 secured on the shaft 96. The worm I I2 engages a worm wheel I I6 mounted on a shaft I I8 transverse to the shafts 88 and 96. Secured on shaft H8 is a worm I28 which engages the worm wheel I88 on the sleeve I82. It is obvious from the above that the sleeve I02 and shaft 96 will be driven in opposite directions and at the same speed provided the proportions of the gears are properly chosen. In other words, the minute hands on the two dials will both move in clockwise directions to the eye of the observer.

A shaft I22 extends through the two discs 22, 24 somewhat above and to the side of the shaft 96. On either end of this shaft are mounted sleeves I24, I26 each rotatable on the said shaft. These sleeves extend through openings in the discs 22, 24. The sleeves carry large gears I32, I34 and small gears I36, I38 rigidly mounted thereon. The large gears engage with small gears I48, I42 rigidly mounted on the sleeves 98 and I82 respectively. The small gears I36, I38 engage with gears I44, I46 carried by sleeves I48, I58 which are rotatably mounted on the sleeves 98, I82 and extend through the dials 26, 28 and. carry on their outer ends the hour hands I52, I54. In this way, motion of the minute hands is transmitted to the hour hands at the proper reduced ratio.

The inner ends of the sleeves I24, I 26 carry bevelled gears I56, I58 both of which are engaged by a common bevelled gear I68 mounted on a shaft I62 transverse to the shaft I22.

A setting stem I64 is slidably arranged in a support I66 secured to the disc 22. This stem extends through an opening I18 in the plate 6 and into an enlarged recess or depression I12 opening at the bottom of the base 2. The setting stem is normally spring pressed to its lowered position by a spring "4 which engages at one end of the support I66 and at the other the knob I16 on the lower end of the stem. On the upper end of the setting stem is a bevelled gear I18 which when the stem is raised engages the gear I68 and thereby turns the hands in opposite directions to set the clock.-

Mounted on the outer faces of the discs 22, 24 are plates I88, I82, respectively which overlie the gears on the sleeves I24, I26 and form bearlugs for the ends of the shaft I22, thereby holdopposite directions at the same speed. The clock will therefore at all times show the same time I on each dial. It is likewise obvious that the setting mechanism will turn both sets of hands simultaneously in opposite directions and to the same extent.

In regard to the starting mechanism, if the clock stops because of a failure of current it is bound to lose some time. It is therefore totally unreliable until it is reset. In order to reset the hands, it is necessary to lift the whole clock in order to get access to the setting knob I16. After the hands are set, when the clock is replaced on the support the member is pushed upwardly and thereby starts the rotor. It is obvious that the member 10 could be started by hand if it were so desired, and that the sudden impulse would still be given to the rotor because of the sudden release of the lever 38.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric clock, a non-self-starting motor including a rotor, and means operable by placing the clock on a support to impart movement tosaid rotor.

2. In an electric clock having a non-self-starting motor including a rotor mechanism to impart a starting movement to said rotor, reciprooable means to actuate said rotor starting mechanism, said reciprocable means extending through the bottom of the clock adapted to engage a support when the clock is placed thereon and to be moved by such engagement to impart movement to said rotor to start the clock.

3. In an electric clock having a non-self-starting motor including a rotor, a member vertically reciprocably mounted in said clock and normally extending through the bottom thereof pressed away from said lever, said pawl engaging and turning said ratchet wheel when said lever swings in one direction and said pawl ratcheting over said ratchet wheel when the lever swings in the other direction, a spring normally urging said lever in said first direction, a second pawl pivoted on the other end of said lever, means to limit the rotary movement of said second pawl in one direction, a spring normally urging said second pawl to its limit of movement in said direction, said second pawl having a cam surface on the opposite side of its pivot from said movement limiting means, a member mounted to reciprocate past the second end of said lever, and a stop on said member adapted to engage said second pawl and to press it towards its movement limiting means to turn the lever against the action of its spring, said stop being then adapted to pass said pawl to release said lever whereby the energy of the spring is imparted to the rotor to turn the same, spring means for returning said reciprocable member to its initial position, said stop engaging during such return movement the cam surface of said second pawl to turn the pawl out of the path of the stop.

5. In an electric clock, a base having a depression in the bottom side thereof, a case mounted on said base, a non-self-starting motor in said case including a rotor, a dial, hands in front of said dial driven by said motor, means for setting said hands including a knob within said depression, whereby it is necessary to raise said base to set the hands, and means extending below said base and adapted to engage a support and be moved thereby when the base is replaced on the support after a setting operation to impart starting movement to said rotor. I

6. In an electric clock having a non-self-starting motor including a rotor, the combination with hands capable of being set manually only when the clock is placed in an abnormal position, of means actuated by the return of the clock to normal position for imparting movement to said rotor.

7. In an electric clock having a non-self-starting motor including a rotor, manual means operable only when said clock is in an abnormal position for setting the hands, and means operable by the restoration of the clock to normal position for imparting movement to said rotor.

8. In an electric clock having a non-self-starting motor including a rotor, manual means, operable only when at least a portion of said clock is in an abnormal position for setting the hands, and means operable by the restoration of that portion of the clock to normal position for imparting movement to said rotor.

IRVING FLORMAN. 

